Unmasking Workplace Bullying with Joy Toney and Tawana Gardner

In this episode of the HR Mixtape, host Shari Simpson is joined by Joy Toney and Tawana Gardner, both from AIM for Change LLC. They discuss the subtle forms of workplace bullying that even seasoned HR professionals might miss. Joy and Tawana share their insights and expertise on this important topic. Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation.

Joy Toney is a Senior Program Consultant for AIM for Change, LLC. Joy’s career successes are mapped over 20+ years of professional experience in non-profit, consumer services, government contracting, and transportation and distribution. Her work experience spectrum includes both people leader and individual contributor roles at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Accredo Health, FedEx Express, Johnson & Johnson, and CAS Incorporated. Joy enjoys utilizing her skills in process and performance improvement, software development, information security, quality assurance, project management, talent management, organizational change management, and justice/equity/diversity/inclusion awareness. She is an active member of the SHRM-Memphis chapter as well as a member of ForbesBLK, a platform championing systematic change in business, culture, and society. She is a CISSP, CCA, CBAP, CST, CSM, CSPO, ITIL4, Prosci Change Management certified, and SHRM Inclusive Workplace Culture specialty credential holder. Joy has served as an advisor to local non-profit boards such as OUTMemphis, the International Institute of Business Analysis – Greater Memphis Chapter, and the PMI Memphis Chapter (Project Management Institute). Joy holds a MBA with a concentration in Information Systems from the University of Memphis and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and information systems, both from the University of Alabama at Huntsville. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in business administration, focusing on organizational behavior in tech spaces.

Tawana Gardner is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt focusing on minimizing process pain points to maximize results. She began her career as an industrial engineer. Shortly after earning both a Lean certification and a Six Sigma Black Belt certification, she implemented many successful continuous improvement projects. She eventually accepted a new opportunity as a project manager implementing capital projects. There, she spent four years before moving on to further her career in manufacturing, ultimately landing an opportunity as a consultant. She has led, designed, and implemented many ongoing improvement projects in addition to teaching Six Sigma principles to yellow belt, green belt, and black belt candidates. She has published several articles, including “Time to Stop.” Quality Progress Magazine (ASQ), July 2022, pgs. 30-35.